Journal Article

'Help for trauma from the app stores?' A systematic review and standardised rating of apps for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Pryss, Rüdiger, Messner, Eva-Maria, Terhorst, Yannik, Spanhel, Kerstin, Sander, Lasse Bosse, Schorndanner, Johanna, Baumeister, Harald

2020

Overview

Background: Mobile health applications (apps) are considered to complement traditional psychological treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, the use for clinical practice and quality of available apps is unknown. Objective: To assess the general characteristics, therapeutic background, content, and quality of apps for PTSD and to examine their concordance with established PTSD treatment and self-help methods. Method: A web crawler systematically searched for apps targeting PTSD in the British Google Play and Apple iTunes stores. Two independent researchers rated the apps using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). The content of high-quality apps was checked for concordance with psychological treatment and self-help methods extracted from current literature on PTSD treatment. Results: Out of 555 identified apps, 69 met the inclusion criteria. The overall app quality based on the MARS was medium (M = 3.36, SD = 0.65). Most apps (50.7%) were based on cognitive behavioural therapy and offered a wide range of content, including established psychological PTSD treatment methods such as processing of trauma-related emotions and beliefs, relaxation exercises, and psychoeducation. Notably, data protection and privacy standards were poor in most apps and only one app (1.4%) was scientifically evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. Conclusions: High-quality apps based on established psychological treatment techniques for PTSD are available in commercial app stores. However, users are confronted with great difficulties in identifying useful high-quality apps and most apps lack an evidence-base. Commercial distribution channels do not exploit the potential of apps to complement the psychological treatment of PTSD.

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis,Taylor & Francis Ltd,Taylor & Francis Group
• Subject: aplicaciones (apps) / apps / eHealth / eSalud / mobile health / Post traumatic stress disorder / Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) / Review / revisión / salud móvil / Self help / Systematic review / The use of mobile health applications (apps) in clinical practice is linked with difficulties due to an unregulated commercial market not bound to standards in quality, data protection and privacy. 69 apps for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder were identified in a systematic search and rated in a standardized form. High-quality apps were found to offer a wide range of functionalities, including established treatment and self-help methods, but mostly lack an evidence-base / trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) / 创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) / 应用程序 / 电子卫生保健 / 移动健康 / 综述